Samsung Foundry is reported to have stabilized yields on its 2 nm gate all around SF2 node to a level considered suitable for mass production, with rumors indicating a yield rate hovering around the 50% mark as it moves ahead with high-volume manufacturing of Exynos 2600 application processors. The Exynos 2600, described as a next generation smartphone chip, is expected to act as the SF2 proof of concept when finalized silicon appears in upcoming Galaxy S26 and S26+ devices. According to a Chosun Daily report citing research from KB Securities and head analyst Kim Dong-won, this early SF2 progress underpins a projection that Samsung’s chip making business could return to profit in 2027 after its foundry division has been recording trillions of won in losses since 2022.
KB Securities states that performance is expected to turn a profit next year from a loss of 7 trillion won last year, thanks to an increase in operating rates following the expansion of Tesla Artificial Intelligence chip supply. An industry insider said company leadership is accelerating order intake with the goal of turning a profit next year, and pointed to the stabilization of yields in advanced processes below 3 nm (<SF3-class), while stating that the operating rates of the highly profitable 4-8 nm processes are also at their highest levels. This combination of improving advanced node yields and strong utilization of mature 4-8 nm lines is portrayed as a key driver for lifting the foundry’s overall operating performance.
The Chosun Daily article highlights Qualcomm and AMD as potential returning fabless customers for Samsung Foundry, particularly around adopting 2-nanometer wafers in either SF2 or SF2P-class. It notes that last month Qualcomm was reportedly close to adopting Samsung Semiconductor’s HPB thermal management technology for smartphones, and that a recent rumor described one unnamed definite sign up for the same in-house product. As the 2 nm SF2 process stabilizes further, the report argues that Samsung has a better and growing chance of securing Qualcomm’s custom, building on what it describes as a long-time customer relationship and a special link between Qualcomm and Samsung Electronics’ mobile business MX division. Together, these factors frame SF2 as both a technical milestone and a strategic lever for reversing the foundry’s fortunes.
